The Ultimate Guide To Hiking With A 6 Month Old

Our family loves hiking, and we don’t want to stop just because we have a little one in tow. Thankfully, we braved the trails with Selah and had so much fun! Don’t be afraid to go hiking with a 6 month old; use this guide to prepare yourself and put your mind at ease!

Diaper Bag

When we built our Amazon Baby Registry, we picked out a backpack diaper bag so that either of us could carry it and not feel awkward. We love it because it’s so easy to carry around places, and that was definitely true on our hike!

Instead of having to pack a different backpack, we just took our diaper bag on the hike. It was already loaded with diapers, wipes, a changing pad, a nursing cover, and anything else we might need, so we didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Plus, it’s a comfortable backpack to carry, which is definitely necessary on a hike!

Sun Protection

Selah has red hair, which means her skin is even more sensitive to the sun. I definitely don’t want her getting sunburned, so we do everything we can to protect her.

This hat is our first line of defense against the sun. It has a wide brim that covers Selah’s whole face, but it’s breathable enough that her head doesn’t sweat. Second, we used a baby-safe sunscreen on her. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that aren’t safe for babies, but here is a link to the best and safest natural sunscreens for babies.

Eating

We went hiking just a couple of days after Selah turned 6 months old, which meant we hadn’t started her on solids yet. She was still exclusively breastfed, which made life a lot easier! We hiked to a waterfall area, and I was able to nurse her when we got there, which was halfway through our hike. Then, she wasn’t hungry again until after we were done.

If you have introduced solids and need to give your baby real food on a hike, I highly recommend the squeeze pouches. These are easy for babies to eat and can even be given to them on the go in a carrier (although the carrier might need a wipe down afterwards!). Other options are feeding the baby at a stopping point (like where I nursed) or taking a short hike after baby is full.

Clothing

Clothing is one of the most important aspects of hiking, because you don’t want the baby to be too hot or too cold. We went hiking in October, but since we were in south Texas, it was still very warm. Because of that, I knew I wanted Selah to be wearing breathable clothing that was suited for the outdoors. Luckily, I found the perfect shirt from Littlest Sidekick Outfitters!

Not only is the design perfect for our outdoor adventures, but the fabric is breathable and comfortable enough for Selah to wear on our hikes. Plus, doesn’t she just look adorable?

I love the fabric of Littlest Sidekick Outfitters shirts, but coming in 2018, they’ll be getting even better! Soon, Littlest Sidekick shirts will be made from a blend of Merino wool and Tencel. Merino wool isn’t itchy like regular wool, and both of these fabrics are highly sustainable.

They keep you toasty warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and they keep away the stink (perfect for kids)! They also breathe moisture better than any other known fabric.

How? As the body heats up, the moisture is absorbed by the wool fiber and released to the drier environment outside of the fabric. That way, it’s able to keep you warm/cool and comfortable! Here’s a preview of what the shirts will look like:

Carrying

If you’re going to go hiking with a baby of any age, you need a good carrier! I recommend one where the baby can face different ways. You also want to make sure that it has good lumbar support.

Our favorite carrier is the Lillebaby All Seasons. We love it because of the lumbar support, ability to carry in 6 different positions, no need for an extra infant insert, and breathable mesh panel on the front.

Selah loves facing out so that she can see the whole world, and she’ll also ride on the back sometimes, too. When she was tiny, I was able to wear her facing inwards while she slept, and the Lillebaby was great for that, as well.

Diapers

We usually use cloth diapers, but since we were on a week-long vacation, Selah was in disposable diapers for our hike. This helped because she doesn’t go through disposables as quickly as cloth.

However, whatever kind of diaper you’re using, you want to be sure to have a wet bag to store the used diapers in. You also may want to carry a changing pad with you in case you need to change a diaper in a random place on the hike.

Hiking with a 6 month old takes more preparation and planning, but it’s so much fun to see your little one enjoying the outdoors! Use the tips in this guide to prepare yourself for this adventure, and remember that it’s not about having the perfect hike, but about having fun as a family!

Have you gone hiking with a 6 month old? Would you add any tips or tricks to this guide? Tell me in the comments!

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